What is Resilient Seattle?

Urban Resilience is the capacity of individuals, communities, institutions, businesses, and systems within a city to survive, adapt, and grow no matter what kinds of chronic stresses and acute shocks they experience.

Seattle's shares many of the same urban challenges of other large cities including issues around housing, economic opportunity, education, and public health. However, the rapid pace of our growth threatens to amplify economic and health disparities among our residents. Seattle's lack of affordable housing is a key factor contributing to homelessness in our community and poor health and educational outcomes continue to create barriers that our most vulnerable residents are unable to overcome.

Additionally, Seattle sits on and is near several seismic faults that have historically been the epicenter of catastrophic earthquakes. We rely on the abundant rainfall and snow pack to provide safe drinking water and affordable, clean hydroelectric power. However, climate change will impact these resources and also increases the risk of serious flooding. Some of the neighborhoods at greatest seismic risk are also those with the greatest risk of increased flooding, and many of these neighborhoods include a higher population of people of color and people with low incomes.

In order to continue to thrive in the face of ongoing stressors as well as in the instance of catastrophic events, Seattle must build and grow our resilience. In partnership with the 100RC--Pioneered by the Rockefeller Foundation, we have launched an effort to develop a robust resilience assessment and a corresponding strategy to that will build on our strengths and shore up our gaps.

Seattle Resilience Survey

Takes 10 minutes or less and is really important in guiding the development of the Resilience Strategy.